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Y 1,657,864 J. MCMULLEN DRAFT KEY ANCHOR "Filed July 27. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l WT-Eg s Jan, 31, 1928.

J. MCMULLEN DRAFT KEY ANCHOR Filed July 27, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES raise PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MQMU'LLEN, OF BUFFALO, NEXV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO E, PAYSON SMITH, F

. SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

DRAFT-KEY .anorron.

Application filed July 27, 1925. Serial No. 46,235.

My invention relates to means-for retaining or anchoring the usual coupler or draft keys in place against accidental removal and loss; the invention contemplating a structure adaptable for anchoring one or more draft keys, namely the coupler key as well as the key for the draft yoke or rigging.

One object of my invention is the provision of means of a character adapted to provide a firm or positive anchor for the keys, while at the same time enabling easy application to the present day standard type of cars and draft rigging and permitting ready release and removal of the draft keys should occasion require; the construction being such as to permit use of the rivet-holes and rivets at present employed in standard car construction.

The above enumerated objects and the advantages of my invention. will all be more readily comprehended from the following detailed description of the constructions 11- lustrated in the drawings, wherein Figure l is a plan view showing the application of one form of my invention to a coupler key;.portions of the center sill members and coupler only being shown.

Figure 2 is a sideelevation of a portion of the center sill and striking casting with my improved anchoring means shown in Figure l; the coupler being omitted.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail view in perspective of the latch member or key eniployed in the contrlnztioin shown in F igure 1.

liigure 5 is a perspective view of the latch member holder or bracket.

Figure (3 is a sectionalplanview of a portion of one member of a center sill and draft key, showing a modified form of my inveir tion.

Figure 7 is aside elevation thereof.

Figure 8 is a View looking at the right hand end of the construction shown in Figure 7, with the striking casting removed and the draft key broken away.

Figure 9 is a detail perspective view of the latchmember employed with the construction shown in Figure 6.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the form shown in Figures 6 and 7, illustrating its application to a form or draft rigging employing two draft keys.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the type of latch member holder or bracket employed in Figures 6 and 10.

In the exemplifications of the invention and as disclosed in Figure 1 the usual center sill members are shown at l0, 10, between which the shank of the coupler shown at 11 is located. The center sill members are usually reinforced by portions of the striking casting, shown at 12 or by cheek plates riveted to the center sill members; but as these elements form no part of my invention, a detailed descriptionneed not be entered into. i

The center sill members well as the striking casting extensions or the cheek plates were used) are provided with registering slots disposed through the web of the sill members shown at 13, (and in dotted lines in Figure 2) adapted to receive the draft key let whereby the coupler 11 is yield.- ingly secured to the car underframe; the slots being of length greater than the transverse dimensions of the keys.

These coupler or draft keys 1% are usually provided at one end with a head as shown at 16, while the opposite and somewhat tapered end has heretofore been provided with a small openingto receive a cotter-pin for the purpose of preventing accidental removal of the keys. During operation, these cotter-pins frequently are sheared off by' constant vibration and jarring of the mechanism which causes the cotter-pins to be forced against the center sill member, with the result that the cotter pins are sheared off and the eoiiiplcr or draft keys are frequently lost and a serious disarrangeinent of the draft rigging brought about.

My invention, as shown in liigure 1, comprises an inverted U-shape member-1ihav- .ing the horizontally disposed portion 18 adapted to extend lengthwise of the center sill and terminating at the ends in the two parallel and vertically disposed bracket or pocket forming portions l9, 19; the member 17 being so formed and provided with rivet holes spaced to register with the spacing' of the rivets in the center sill in order, that the same rivets may be employed for securing the member 17 in place; thereby saving time and expense. The portions 19 extend out laterally from the base or connecting portion 18 and therefore outwardly nemgsea construction of the elements and their opernation are the same as those previously described.

With the constructions shown and described, it is evident that a positive anchor or retaining means is provided for the draft or coupler keys which not only is adapted to Withstand any of the stresses or strains encountered through the longitudinal movement of the draft keys, but which is of such construction that accidental removal of the anchoring or latch mechanism is impossible. At thesame time a device is provided which can readily be secured to the center sills and which is adapted to utilize certain of the rivets which are employed for securing either the extensions of the striking casting between the center sills or for securing the cheek plates or reenforcing elements in place, and thus obviates the necessity of additional rivet holes in the center sill member. Fur thermore, my improved anchoring means are of such construction that, when occasion requires, the latch members may be quickly removed to permit removal of the draft keys; the latch members, as shown in the drawings, extend throughout the length of the draft key slots 13, so that the draft keys will at all. times be properly anchored or held in place regardless of their posit-ion in the slots 13.

I have shown and described what I believe to be simple adaptations of my invention which have been described in terms employed merely as terms of description and not as terms of limitation, as structural modifications may be made without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

A draft key anchor comprising, in combination with the draft mechanism of a railway car including draft sills having key- JQHN MGMULLEN. 

